Seed-corn box.



0. L. DUNKELBAEGBR.

' SEED CORN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH 30., WASHINGTON, D, c4

ORRA Il- DUNKELBARGER, OF NEVADA, IOWA.

SEED-CORN BOX.

Specification of 'Letters Patent. 7

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Application filed September 9, 1912. Serial No. 719,462.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, ORRA L. DUNKEL- BARGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Nevada, in the county of Story and State of Iowa,have invented a certain new and useful Seed-Corn Box, of which the'following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a seed corn box of simple,durable and inexpensive construction in which ears of seed corn may beplaced spaced apart from each other so that the air may havefree accessto all parts of the ears at all times.

A further object is to provide such a device in which the ears are heldin such a manner that the seed corn box may be readily picked up andmoved about without disturbing the ears.

A further object is to provide such a device so constructed and arrangedthat it may be readily collapsed into small space for storage ortransportation.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointedout in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l shows a top or plan view of my improved seed corn'box. Fig.2rshows a side elevation. of the same. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation ofthe device in its collapsed form. Fig. 4 shows a detail view of one ofthe corner posts. Fig. 5 shows a detail view of the manner in which thecorner posts are mounted on the upper portion of the frame, parts of theposts and horizontal side members being cut away.

In building my improved seed corn box I make a. rectangular lower framehaving horizontal side members which I have indicated in-theaccompanying drawings by the reference numeral 10. The side members 10are connected by horizontal end members indicated by the dotted linesnear each" end of the members 10 in F igs. 2 and 3. The horizontal endmembers are set in slightly from the ends of members 10 as clearlyindicated by said dotted lines. The rectangular frame just described iswholly detachable from the rest of the seed corn box and is assembledtherewith or mounted thereon in the manner hereinafter described. Iprovide four corner posts 11 which at their lower ends are provided withnotches 12 to receive the horizontal end members of the lowerrectangular frame. In the upper end of each corner post 11 is a verticalelongated slot 13 shown in Fig. 2. hat I call the upper rectangularframe is mounted on the corner posts 11 in the following manner: Iprovide longitudinal horizontal side members 14 at each end upon a pin15 which pin extends through the slot 13 and is received in the end of ahorizontal end member 16. It will therefore be seen that the cornerposts 11 are pivotably and slidably mounted at I secure to the lowerrectangular frame,

preferably to the upper surface thereof, a

fabric 17 which may be of ordinary meshed screen Wire or other suitablematerial which will permit the free passage of air and at the same timeform a sufficiently strong sup- 7 tween them. Extending between the endmembers 161 provide a plurality of parallel wires 19 spaced apart fromeach other a SlIllllEll distance thereby forming a number. of squares toreceive ears of com 20; The

wires 18 and19 are preferably intermeshed inorder to support each otherand to main- 1 tam the shape of the squares formed between them.

In the practical assembling and use of my improved seed corn box thelower rectangugular frame with the end members of said lower framereceived in the slots or notches 12. To prevent the upright members 11from swinging outwardly at their lower ends and causing the frame tocollapse when not in use, I have plvotably mounted on the opposite facesof two of the posts 11 at one lar frame is mounted on the upperrectanside of the device, arms 21 on the ends of g which are hooks 22,the arms 21 when in position are inclined upwardly and toward each otherand are also bent outwardly at 23 as shown in Fig. 1 to clear the sidemember 14. In one of the side members 14 I have secured eyelets 24 toreceive the hook member 22.

When the seed corn box is assembled and ready for use the ears areinserted downwardly in the squares until their lower ends rest upon theperforated fabric 17. The

seed corn box may be made of suflicient capacity to hold any number ofcars, and the size of the squares between the wires may be slightlyvaried to fit differentv varieties of corn. For bracing the corner posts11 and also to serve as handles for lifting the seed corn box I securebetween the corner posts at each end of the device, cross members 25.

It will be seen that the boxes may be placed one above' the other andstacked as high as desired when filled with corn and the corn in theboxes will not be in any way interfered with. The boxes may be liftedand moved from place to place by means of the cross pieces 25 and theears'will not be disturbed. When the ears of corn are removed, the seedcorn box may be collapsed by unfastening the arms 21. The lower ends ofthe corner posts 11 may then be moved outwardly until they are releasedfrom engagement with the end members of the lower rectangular frame. Theupper frame may then be: lifted away from the lower frame and the lowerends of the posts 11 may be swung inwardly toward the center of theupper rectangular frame. The posts may be slid longitudinally and willlie parallel with the frame members 14. The upper frame may then be laidflat upon the lower frame as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and thewhole device may be packed away in a small space.

Among the many advantages of my improved seed'corn box are the factsthat it holds the ears spaced apart'from each other and subject'to freepassage of air. The cars are supported in upright position and the boxmay be moved about freely without disthe advantages turbing the ears ordropping them out of the seed corn box. In most seed corn racks the earsare supported horizontally and if the racks are slightly tipped the earsare dropped out. In such racks in order to prevent the ears fromdropping out, it is necessary to provide side walls of meshed or othermaterial to hold the ears in position. In my device I am able todispense'with these-side walls entirely. I

My improved rack may be easily taken apart and collapsed for storage ortransportation, occupying a very smallspace when in its collapsedposition. The device is so constructed and arranged that it may be madeof cheap material which is readily accessible and the seed corn box whencompleted will practically never wear out.

A considerable number of variations may be madein the details of theconstruction of my device without departing from the especial featuresof my device as defined in the appended claims.

It will be readily seen that my device can be used in rigid form andwill retain most of hereinbefore' set forth. Whether the collapsed orrigid form be used, the boxes can be stacked one above the other and onaccount of features of construction above described, will permit freecirculation of air through all the seed corn boxes.

I claim as my invention.

1. In a device of the class described, a lower rectangular frame,upright corner posts mounted thereon, an upper rectangular frame mountedon said posts, a fabric on said lower frame, parallel longitudinal wireson'said upper frame and parallel transverse wires on said upper frame,said wires being arranged to form squares for the reception of ears ofcorn resting in upright position on said fabric.

2. In a device of the class described, a lower rectangular framecomprising horizontal side members and horizontal end members, cornerposts detachably mounted on said lower frame andan upper rectangularframe slidably and pivotally mounted on said corner posts.

3. In a device of the class described, a lower rectangular framecomprising hori: zontal side members and horizontalend members, a fabricmounted on said lower rectangular frame, corner posts detachably mountedon said lower frame, an upper rectangular frame slidably and pivotallymounted on said corner posts, parallellongitudinal wires mounted on saidupper frame and parallel transverse wires mounted thereon, said wiresforming squares designed to receive ears of corn. 7

4. In a device of the class described, a

mounted on the opposite faces of two of said corner posts at one side ofsaid device,

said arms being bent outwardly to clear the side members of said upperrectangular frame, and means for detachably. securing the upper ends ofsaid arms to the outer sura face of one of the side members of saidupper frame.

5. In a device of the class described, a

lower rectangular frame comprising horizontal side members andhorizontalend members connecting said side members, a

fabric of material mounted on said frame, corner posts each of which isprovided with a notch to receive one of the end members of said lowerrectangular frame, each of said corner postsbeing also provided in itsupper portion with an elongated vertical slot extending through it, anupper. rectangular frame comprisinghorizontal side members andhorizontal end members, aplurality of pins each of which extends throughthe slot in one of said corner posts and is secured to one of the sidemembers and one of the end members of .said upper rectangular framewhereby said upper frame is pivotally and slidably mounted'upon each ofsaid corner posts.

6. In a device of the class described, a rectangular lower framecomprising horizontal side members and angular horizontal end membersconnecting said side members, said end members being spaced slightlyinwardly from the ends of said side members, four corner posts each ofwhich is provided at its lower end with an angular notch designed toreceive one of said end members and is provided at its upper end with anelongated vertical slot extending through it, and an upper rectangularframe comprising horizontal sidemembers and horizontal end members, pinsconnecting said side members and said end membersand extending throughsaid slots whereby said upper frame 7 is slidably mounted on said cornerposts and means for detachably securing said corner posts againstoutward movement when said device is assembled.

7 In a device of. the class described, a rectangular lower framecomprising horizontal horizontal sidemembers and horizontalend members,pins connecting said side members and said end members and extendingthrough said slots whereby said upper frame is slidably mounted on saidcorner posts and means for detachably securing said corner posts againstoutward movement when said device is assembled, and cross bracesdesigned to serve also as handles connecting the upper ends of thecorner posts at each end of the device. I

Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 30, 1912.

ORRA L. DUNKELBARGER.

Witnesses L. Coors, S. ROBINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of I'atents,

Washington, D. O.

